Perceived stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS versus perceived stigma towards self if had HIV

Purpose: This study compared perceived norms on HIV stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) versus self if had HIV. METHODS: An innovative HIV stigma scale was developed with corresponding items, rated on five-point Likert scales, measuring the level of blaming attitudes towards PLWHA versus towards self if were infected with HIV/AIDS. A convenient young adult student sample in the South (n=52) participated in this project. RESULTS: A 7-item stigma scale was developed. Results showed that this corresponding scale had satisfactory internal consistencies in measuring stigma towards PLWHA versus self (Cronbach alphas were .888 and .812, with CITC ranging .571~.795 and .359~.650, respectively). Paired-t tests showed that participants rated significantly higher on all of the 7 stigma statements if self had HIV (all p<.001). The overall norm on HIV stigma was approximately twice the level for stigma towards PLWH versus internalized stigma if self had HIV, with scale means of 9.94 (SD=3.18) versus 18.65 (SD=5.15), respectively (t (51) =-11.86; p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides HIV researchers a new and innovative tool to assess and compare perceived level of HIV stigma. Results indicate that although individuals tend to perceive higher stigma level or blaming towards self if had HIV, the actual level of stigma in the general public might be much lower. The data has great potential to address stigma perceptions among PLWHA, and the corresponding scale provides new opportunity to assess the potential impact of HIV stigma interventions in PLWHA and general groups.